NYC Immigration Protest: Elected Officials Arrested at Federal Plaza ICE Facility

New York City — A tense standoff over immigration policy escalated on Thursday as more than 70 people, including a dozen elected officials, were arrested at 26 Federal Plaza in Manhattan. The group was protesting conditions inside an ICE immigration holding facility, which a federal judge recently ordered to improve.

The Protest and Arrests

The demonstration began when New York state and city leaders, alongside dozens of activists, attempted to inspect the 10th-floor holding rooms where migrants are detained. ICE officers blocked entry, insisting the areas were off-limits to public officials.

Among those taken into custody were NYC Comptroller Brad Lander, State Senators Jabari Brisport and Julia Salazar, and City Council Member Tiffany Cabán. Officials were handcuffed after refusing to leave the floor. Outside the building, Public Advocate Jumaane Williams led additional protesters who blocked a garage entrance.

In total, around 70–77 demonstrators were arrested both inside and outside the building, according to law enforcement sources. The building was briefly placed on lockdown after a bomb threat, though no device was found.

Court Order on Conditions

The protest followed a preliminary injunction issued by a federal judge just one day earlier. The order directed U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement to address reports of overcrowding, poor sanitation, and lack of sleeping mats in its Manhattan facility. The ruling also emphasized that detainees must have reliable access to legal counsel.

Elected officials argued they had a duty to ensure ICE was complying with the court order. By blocking them from entry, they said, ICE demonstrated a lack of transparency.

ICE and DHS Response

A spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security described the protest as an obstruction of federal operations, stressing that the facility is a temporary holding space used for short-term processing, not long-term detention. ICE defended its refusal to allow inspections, claiming the protest was politically motivated.

Political Fallout

The arrests sparked immediate outcry from immigration advocates and progressive leaders. Supporters of the protest said the action highlighted inhumane conditions and the government’s failure to provide transparency.

“This isn’t about politics,” said one lawmaker before being taken away in handcuffs. “This is about basic human rights and dignity.”

Opponents, however, criticized the lawmakers’ tactics, accusing them of grandstanding and disrupting law enforcement operations.

Broader Significance

The high-profile arrests underscore the ongoing clash between local officials and federal immigration authorities in New York City. With immigration policy already a flashpoint in national politics, the confrontation at Federal Plaza is likely to amplify calls for reform.

The incident also raises broader questions about oversight: how much access state and city officials should have to federal facilities, and what accountability measures are necessary when conditions fail to meet legal standards.

For now, those arrested face misdemeanor charges for trespassing and obstruction. But the larger fight over immigrant rights, detention standards, and federal transparency is far from over.